System and Method for Waterless Urinal Cartridge Usage Determination and Indication

The present invention relates to waterless urinals, and more particularly to a system and method for waterless urinal cartridge usage determination and indication for assessment of when a waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced.

Water is a scarce and diminishing resource in many areas of the world. It is widely recognized that more must be done to conserve its usage as populations grow and climate changes drive need. Water conserving products are becoming more and more important not only for the quality of human life but also for sanitary and subsistence reasons.

There have been many water conserving measures taken around the world to deal with limited and diminishing resources. Many municipalities have implemented rationing plans. Others have invested in wastewater recycling treatment and re-use. There have also been many water conserving products introduced into the marketplace. These products have become more and more widely used by industry and homeowners as regulations and the rising cost of water usage drive change.

One major line of products designed to save water are non-flushing (waterless or water-free) urinals. Savings of water per year for a single waterless urinal can amount to as much as 40,000 gallons. Non-flushing urinals use the least amount of water of any urinal system and are comprised of three major components: a porcelain urinal, a housing, and a cartridge. The porcelain urinal component is very similar to that of a traditional urinal. The housing and cartridge replace the traditional P-trap, which normally would connect a urinal to a building's plumbing. Thus, the housing sits in-line between the building's plumbing and the bottom of the urinal where the drainpipe would normally connect. The cartridge, which contains the trap, fits in the housing and can be removed for servicing and replacement.

There are two types of cartridge styles: liquid traps and mechanical valves. The liquid trap-style cartridge serves two purposes. First, it acts as a barrier from sewer gasses and odors coming into the restroom. Second, it acts as a filter for removing some of the solids that precipitate from the human urine (a super-saturated liquid). Human urine is, on average, an aqueous solution of greater than 95% water, with the remaining constituents, in order of decreasing concentration: urea 9.3 g/L, chloride 1.87 g/L, sodium 1.17 g/L, potassium 0.750 g/L, creatinine 0.670 g/L, and other dissolved ions, inorganic and organic compounds; according to the NASA Contractor Report No. NASA CR-1802, D. F. Putnam, July 1971.

The liquid trap-style cartridge works by using the following mechanisms. First, urine fills the P-trap of the cartridge forming a barrier against sewer gasses; just as water does in a traditional P-trap-based urinal. Second, a layer of low-density fluid, such as oil, is poured into the trap so that it floats on top of the urine. This floating oil forms a barrier, helping to keep unpleasant urine smells from entering the bathroom. As the user urinates into the urinal, fresh urine enters the cartridge, sinks through the floating oil barrier, and presses out the old urine from the trap through the housing exit tube and into the building's plumbing.

The mechanical valve non-flushing urinals work in a slightly different manner. All components are similar to the above-mentioned liquid trap-style non-flushing urinal, except for the cartridge. In this case, rather than using a liquid barrier, some form of a mechanical valve is utilized. The mechanical valve allows urine to pass through while blocking the gas and the odor from escaping back through the system and into the restroom. The valve can be housed in a cartridge or, if replaceable, serve as the cartridge itself. One example of a mechanical valve cartridge is that made by Liquidbreaker, LLC (5575 Magnatron Blvd., San Diego, CA 92111); the subject of a U.S. Pat. No. 7,900,288 (hereinafter the '288 patent). In this model, two silicone flaps rest on plastic seats in a cartridge; forming a one-way barrier. When urine flows down, it puts weight onto the silicon flaps at the center of the cartridge and the flaps open up. When the urine drips off of the flaps and into the housing, the valves close; thus, sealing out gasses. Another example of a mechanical valve cartridge uses a duckbill-type valve rather than the style used in the '288 patent. Another type of mechanical valve cartridge, similar to one manufactured and sold under the Whiffaway and Saracen brands (WhiffAway Ltd., Unit 6, Premacto Business Estate, Queensmead Road, High Wycombe HP10 9XA, UK), uses a mechanical valve itself as the cartridge. Still yet another type of mechanical valve cartridge, similar to the one manufactured and sold under the Helvex brand (Helvex S.A. de C.V./Calzada Coltongo 293, Colonia Industrial Vallejo, 02300, México), uses a sphere-shaped ball that forms a seal by seating into a hole at the bottom of a cartridge and then floating up when surrounded by urine; consequently opening the valve when urine is present and closing it when the cartridge is empty. There are advantages and shortcomings to both liquid trap and mechanical valve-type non-flushing urinals.

Non-flushing urinals use virtually no water and also have key advantages in cleanliness and bacteria growth management. Multiple studies, for example those performed by the St. Louis County Health Department on Bio-Aerosols and the UCLA Waterfree Urinal Research Project, show that less bacteria forms on the porcelain surface of a urinal where no water is introduced as compared to a traditional urinal.

With non-flushing mechanical cartridge valves, there are other issues. When a mechanical cartridge valve fails (for example if it were to get jammed with an object like gum or hair), it fails in the open position. This is a significant problem as sewer gasses are then free to enter the restroom. Struvite is known to build up on the working surfaces of the mechanical valves and can jam them open or glue them shut. In fact, the various current plumbing codes in the United States strictly forbid mechanical valves of any kind as a replacement for liquid traps due to failure concerns. Struvite buildup tends to occur on and around the sealing surface of a mechanical valve and below the valve in the housing area where the drip edge of the mechanical valve drips. These drips cause splash, and splash causes the urine to precipitate its solids. As previously mentioned, it is a known fact that urine is a super-saturated material and that super-saturated materials can precipitate due to turbulence or shock. Thus, it is important to regularly flush mechanical valves with water-which can be onerous on the maintenance team who may not have a good source for filling heavy buckets for many urinals each day. For this reason, mechanical valves often fail due to the requirements of constant service.

Having now described the ever-increasing need for non-flushing urinals as well as the two cartridge styles for such urinals. We now turn towards their maintenance needs. Regardless of the type of non-flushing urinal, cartridges or valves wear out and require replacement at the end of their useful lives. The amount of wear that a cartridge or valve has undergone is not readily assessable through visual inspection by a user. Thus, there is a need for a mechanism to determine usage of a cartridge or valve and to indicate such usage so that the cartridge or valve may be replaced when needed. The present invention provides a solution to this need.

The present invention relates to waterless urinals, and more particularly to a system and method for waterless urinal cartridge usage determination and indication for assessment of when a waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced.

In one aspect, the system includes a measuring/computing device for measuring a consumption factor where the consumption factor represents a usage measure of a waterless urinal cartridge; and an indicator for indicating when the consumption factor reaches a predetermined threshold.

In another aspect, the consumption factor is at least one of: a time-based consumption factor, a use-based consumption factor, a frequency-based consumption factor, and a physical characteristic-based consumption factor.

In a further aspect, the time-based consumption factor is time, and the indicator indicates when a predetermined amount of time has passed since an installation of the waterless urinal cartridge.

In a still further aspect, the use-based consumption factor is a number of usages of the waterless urinal cartridge and the indicator indicates when a predetermined number of usages has accumulated since an installation of the waterless urinal cartridge.

In a yet further aspect, the time-based consumption factor is time, and the use-based consumption factor is a number of usages of the waterless urinal cartridge and wherein the indicator indicates when a predetermined amount of time has passed or when a predetermined number of usages has accumulated since an installation of the waterless urinal cartridge, whichever occurs first.

In yet another aspect, the time-based consumption factor is time, the use-based consumption factor is a number of usages of the waterless urinal cartridge, and the frequency-based consumption factor is a frequency of use of the waterless urinal cartridge, and wherein the predetermined threshold is a function of the time-based consumption factor, the use-based consumption factor, and the frequency-based consumption factor.

In still another aspect, the time-based consumption factor is time, and the frequency-based consumption factor is a frequency of use of the waterless urinal cartridge and wherein the predetermined threshold is a function of the time-based consumption factor and the frequency-based consumption factor.

In a further aspect, the use-based consumption factor is a number of usages of the waterless urinal cartridge, and the frequency-based consumption factor is a frequency of use of the waterless urinal cartridge, and the predetermined threshold is a function of the use-based consumption factor and the frequency-based consumption factor.

In another aspect, the physical characteristic-based consumption factor is at least one of: a measurement of an oil layer within the waterless urinal cartridge, a measurement of solid buildup within the waterless urinal cartridge, a measurement of a weight of the waterless urinal cartridge, a measurement of fluid flow through the cartridge, and a measurement of an erosion-based usage gauge.

In yet another aspect, the predetermined threshold determines when the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced, and the indicator indicates that the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced when the consumption factor reaches the predetermined threshold.

In still another aspect, the system further comprising a detector for detecting a use of the urinal cartridge, the detector communicatively connected with the measuring/computing device to provide use information to the measuring/computing device when a use occurs and where the measuring/computing device tracks the consumption factor based on the use information.

In a further aspect, the predetermined threshold determines when the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced, and the indicator indicates that the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced when the consumption factor reaches the predetermined threshold.

In a still further aspect, the measuring/computing device, the indicator, and the detector are housed in a body such as a urinal body; a cartridge body; a combination of a urinal body and a cartridge body; a combination of a urinal body and an extra-urinal location; a combination of a cartridge body and an extra-urinal location; and a combination of a urinal body, a cartridge body, and an extra-urinal location.

In a yet further aspect, the predetermined threshold determines when the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced and wherein the indicator indicates that the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced when the consumption factor reaches the predetermined threshold.

In another aspect, the system for waterless urinal cartridge usage determination and indication comprising a measuring/computing device for measuring a consumption factor where the consumption factor represents a usage measure of a waterless urinal cartridge; and a detector for detecting a use of the urinal cartridge, the detector communicatively connected with the measuring/computing device to provide use information to the measuring/computing device when a use occurs and where the measuring/computing device tracks the consumption factor based on the use information.

In still another aspect, the present invention comprises a method for waterless urinal cartridge usage determination and indication having acts of: measuring a consumption factor where the consumption factor represents a usage measure of a waterless urinal cartridge; and indicating when the consumption factor reaches a predetermined threshold.

In yet another aspect, the predetermined threshold determines when the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced and the act of indicating indicates that the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced when the consumption factor reaches the predetermined threshold.

In a further aspect, the method further comprises an act of detecting a use of the urinal cartridge and providing use information for use in the measuring act when a use occurs and where in the measuring act, the consumption factor is tracked based on the use information.

In a still further aspect, the predetermined threshold determines when the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced and the act of indicating indicates that the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced when the consumption factor reaches the predetermined threshold.

In a yet further aspect, the acts of measuring, indicating, and detecting are performed in body selected from a group consisting of a urinal body; a cartridge body; a combination of a urinal body and a cartridge body; a combination of a urinal body and an extra-urinal location; a combination of a cartridge body and an extra-urinal location; and a combination of a urinal body, a cartridge body, and an extra-urinal location.

In another aspect, the predetermined threshold determines when the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced and wherein the act of indicating indicates that the waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced when the consumption factor reaches the predetermined threshold.

The present invention relates to waterless urinals, and more particularly to a system and method for waterless urinal cartridge usage determination and indication for assessment of when a waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced.

The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. For example, the individual components described may be formed as discrete parts or integrated together as a single unit. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification, and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” or “act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.

Before describing the invention in detail, an introduction is provided to give the reader a general understanding of the present invention. Next, a description of various aspects of the present invention is provided to give an understanding of the specific details.

The present invention relates to waterless urinals, and more particularly to a system and method for waterless urinal cartridge usage determination and indication for assessment of when a waterless urinal cartridge should be replaced. A prior art example waterless urinalalong with a useris shown in. The urinalcomprises a bowlattached with a base or backboard. Inside the bowlis a cartridgehoused within a housing.

Four examples of prior art waterless urinal cartridges are shown in. These cartridge examples will be used to illustrate various aspects of the present invention as described further below. It should be noted that although the present invention is shown applied to these example cartridges, it can also be applied to other types of cartridges. Thus, the present invention should not be considered limited to use with the cartridges shown.

Turning now to the example prior art waterless urinal cartridges, a cross-sectional side view of a prior art liquid trap cartridgewithin a housingis shown in. The cartridgecomprises a slanted top surfacehaving a liquid passagetherethrough. Fluid flow through the cartridgeis shown by the arrows therein. After passing through the liquid passage, fluid, such as urine, enters the main chamberof the cartridge. A tonguein the main chamberhelps to slow the fluid and eliminate turbulence. Next, the fluid flows through a passageto an exitof the cartridge. The fluid then passes into an exit portionof the housingand subsequently into the plumbing of the structure in which the urinal(not shown) resides. A layer of oil or other material that is less dense than water resides at a levelwithin the cartridgein order to prevent gases from the fluid beneath escaping out of the urinaland into the surrounding room.

A cross-sectional side view of a prior art mechanical valve cartridgewithin a housingis shown in. The cartridgecomprises a slanted top surfacehaving a liquid passagetherethrough. A mechanical valveis positioned within the liquid passage. Fluid flows through the cartridgeas shown by the arrows in the figure. Fluid flow causes the mechanical valveto open, allowing the fluid to pass. After the fluid passes, the mechanical valvecloses in order to prevent gases from the fluid beneath escaping out of the urinaland into the surrounding room. After passing through the mechanical valve, the fluid flows into an exit portionof the housingand subsequently into the plumbing of the structure in which the urinal(not shown) resides. A meshis positioned over the mechanical valvein order to prevent objects from falling into the mechanical valveand disrupting its operation.

A cross-sectional side view of a prior art mechanical valvewithin a housingis shown in. The housingcomprises a slanted top surfacehaving a liquid passagetherethrough. The mechanical valveis positioned within the liquid passage. Fluid flows through the mechanical valveas shown by the arrows in the figure. Fluid flow causes the mechanical valveto open, allowing the fluid to pass. After the fluid passes, the mechanical valvecloses in order to prevent gases from the fluid beneath escaping out of the urinal(not shown) and into the surrounding room. After passing through the mechanical valve, the fluid flows into an exit portionof the housingand subsequently into the plumbing of the structure in which the urinalresides. A meshis positioned over the mechanical valvein order to prevent objects from falling into the mechanical valveand disrupting its operation.

A cross-sectional side view of an alternative prior art liquid trap cartridgewithin a housingis shown in. The cartridgecomprises a slanted top surfacehaving a liquid passagetherethrough. Fluid flow through the cartridgeis shown by the arrows therein. After passing through the liquid passagefluid, such as urine, enters the main chamberof the cartridge. Next, the fluid flows through a passageto an exitof the cartridge. The fluid then passes into an exit portionof the housingand subsequently into the plumbing of the structure in which the urinal(not shown) resides. A layer of oil or other material that is less dense than water resides at a levelwithin the cartridgein order to prevent gases from the fluid beneath from escaping out of the urinaland into the surrounding room.

The present invention provides a system and method for waterless urinal cartridge usage determination and indication in order to assist an operator of a waterless urinal in knowing when the cartridge is near or at the end of its useful life and needs replacement.

A block diagram showing the principal components of the invention is shown in. In its simplest form, the invention comprises a measuring/computing devicefor tracking a consumption factor representing a usage measure on the waterless cartridge (e.g., the amount of usage the cartridge has seen) and an indicatorfor providing information about the amount of usage the cartridge has seen. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the measuring device can range in sophistication from a simple counter to a general or specific computing device, depending on the specific system components. Generally, the indicator signals/indicates when the consumption factor reaches a predetermined threshold. As an example, in the simplest form, the measuring devicecould simply be a timer and the indicatorcould be a display that signals/indicates the need to replace the cartridge after a predetermined amount of time has passed.

In a more complex version, the invention can also include a detectorfor detecting a usage of the cartridge. As an example, the detector(typically a type of sensor) could be a weight sensor in front of the urinal that detects the presence of a user and provides the detection information to the measuring device. After a predetermined number of detections, the indicatorsignals/indicates the need to replace the cartridge.

In the following section, flow charts depicting the operations/acts of the measuring/computing device, the indicator, and the detectorwill be presented.

Generally, these operations/acts comprise measuring a consumption factor where the consumption factor represents a usage measure of a waterless urinal cartridge; detecting a use of the urinal cartridge and providing use information for use in the measuring act when a use occurs and where in the measuring act, the consumption factor is tracked based on the use information; and indicating when the consumption factor reaches a predetermined threshold. This indication can serve to inform the urinal operator of an impending need to replace the cartridge.

Flow charts depicting five variations of the operations/consumption factors of the present invention are shown below. Each involves the use of different factors for determining the life of a cartridge.